'Women in Jazz' grace Bezanson stage
By Chris Gazzara, Collegian Staff, The Daily Collegian
Issue date: 1/30/05 Section: Arts & Living

Jazz is often overlooked as a modern music form. Even more frequently, it is thought of by many as a male-dominated genre. Thanks to UMass graduate students Dominique Gagne and Dia Silverstein, a University concert venue will focus on jazz as written and performed by women.

According to Silverstein, as cited in a press release about the event, the two women saw their experience as students in an advanced music degree program focusing on jazz as a way to realize their goal to bring attention to women in jazz.

'We have stepped out of our roles as students to oversee nearly all of the parts of this event. We have booked the soloists, arranged for use of Bezanson Recital Hall, rounded up the female performers in our Department, attracted support and started to promote the concert," Silverstein said in the press release.

The hard work of Gagne and Silverstein won them extra funding, and they found themselves able to feature not only local talent, as originally planned, but three talented guest performers as well.

Allison Miller, a New York City based jazz drummer and composer signed on to the project first. An instrumentalist from the age of ten, she moved on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from West Virginia University where she began her career as a freelance drummer.

Miller's style has been described by the Los Angeles Times as "brawny and swinging where high-voltage propulsion was the appropriate choice, infinitely subtle with accents and timbres where sound and texture were demanded."

Jazz Vocalist Anita Wardell, one of Britain's finest vocalists and friend of UMass professor Catherine Jensen-Hole will be in the area for another Jazz festival in Washington, DC. Due to this lucky coincidence, she will be able to perform in the Women in Jazz Festival as well.

Boston-based singer/songwriter Manisha Shahane will join the festival as well. A good friend of Gagne's, the two worked together on Shanane's debut album, "Peace in Progress" is an eclectic album incorporating many different traditions like folk, jazz and Indian traditions. Northeast Performer Magazine said that her songs contain "complex rythms and well constructed melody lines...with unexpected harmonic twists...and [a] flair for meaningful lyrics."

These three diverse and interesting artists will share the stage with other local talents Thursday, February 10 at 8 p.m. in Bezanson. In attendance will be Vocal Jazz Professor Catherine Jenson-Hole. Dia Silverstein (alto and soprano saxes, flute) and Dominique Gagne (piano, flute) will also perform.

Fellow graduate Students Lena Bloch (tenor and soprano saxes, flute) and Carol Daggs (piano, voice) will also play. Alumni performers include Genevieve Rose (bass) and Melissa Motew (trumpet).

An idea born here on campus and brought to life by UMass' very own students, the Women in Jazz Festival is a concept both simple and important at the same time. Gagne and Silverstein are going to bring their small idea to a reality on stage at UMass.

The UMass Amherst Department of Music & Dance, the Fine Arts Center and the Women's Studies Program have stepped up to sponsor the festival.

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